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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Holy of Holies

HOLY OF HOLIES

ho'-liz (qodhesh ha-qodhashim, Exodus 26:33, debhir, 1 Kings 6:16, etc.; in the New Testament, hagia hagion, Hebrews 9:3): The name given to the innermost shrine, or adytum of the sanctuary of Yahweh.

1. In the Tabernacle:

The most holy place of the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 26:31-33) was a small cube of 10 cubits (15 ft.) every way. It was divided from the holy Ceiled by curtains which bore cherubic figures embroidered in blue and purple and scarlet (Exodus 26:1), it contained no furniture but the Ark of the Covenant, covered by a slab of gold called the MERCY-SEAT (which see), and having within it only the two stone tables of the Law (see TABERNACLE; ARK OF THE COVENANT). Only the high priest, and he but once a year, on the great clothed in penitential garments, amid a cloud of incense, and with blood of sacrifice (Leviticus 16; compare Hebrews 9:7).

2. In the Temple of Solomon:

The proportions of the most holy place in the first temple were the same as in the tabernacle, but the dimensions were doubled. The sacred chamber was enlarged to 20 cubits (30 ft.) each way. We now meet with the word debhir, "oracle" (1 Kings 6:16, etc.), which with the exception of Psalm 28:2, belonging perhaps to the same age, is met with in Scripture only in the period of Solomon's reign. This sanctum, like its predecessor, contained but one piece of furniture-the Ark of the Covenant. It had, however, one new conspicuous feature in the two large figures of cherubim of olive wood, covered with gold, with wings stretching from wall to wall, beneath which the ark was now placed (1 Kings 6:23-28 2 Chronicles 3:10-13; see TEMPLE).

3. In Later Times:

In Ezekiel's temple plans, which in many things may have been those of the temple of Zerubbabel, the prophet gives 20 cubits as the length and breadth of the most holy place, showing that these figures were regarded as too sacred to undergo change (Ezekiel 41:4). There was then no Ark of the Covenant, but Jewish tradition relates that the blood of the great Day of Atonement was sprinkled on an unhewn stone that stood in its place. In Herod's temple, the dimensions of the two holy chambers remained the same-at least in length and breadth (see TEMPLE, HEROD'S). The holiest place continued empty. In the spoils of the temple depicted on the Arch of Titus there is no representation of the Ark of the Covenant; only of the furniture of the outer chamber or holy place.

4. Figurative:

In the Epistle to the Hebrews we are taught that the true holy of holies is the heaven into which Jesus has now entered to appear in virtue of His own sacrifice in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:11). Restriction is now removed, and the way into the holiest is made open for all His people (Hebrews 10:19, 20).

W. Shaw Caldecott

Greek

40. hagios -- sacred, holy
... Usage Holy (92), holy (62), Holy of Holies (1), holy one (5), holy ones (1), holy
place (7), most holy (1), saint (1), saints (59), saints' (1), sanctuary (2). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/40.htm - 8k

2665. katapetasma -- a curtain (the inner veil of the temple)
... curtain Definition: (lit: that which is spread out downwards, that which hangs down),
a curtain, veil, of that which separated the Holy of Holies from the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2665.htm - 6k

2369. thumiaterion -- altar of incense, a censer
... ordinarily: censer, but) either the altar of incense, or the shovel, on which the
high-priest poured the coals, when he entered the Holy of Holies on the Day ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2369.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

6944. qodesh -- apartness, sacredness
... consecrated thing (1), consecrated things (2), dedicated (1), dedicated gifts (2),
dedicated things (5), holiness (9), Holy (6), holy (263), holies (6), holy ...
/hebrew/6944.htm - 6k

Library

In the Holy of Holies.
... 24. IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES. [Illustration: Chapter header.] The subject of the sanctuary
was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /24 in the holy of.htm

In the Holy of Holies
... Chapter 24 In the Holy of Holies. The subject of the sanctuary was the key
which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 24 in the holy.htm

Concerning Holy of Holies, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of ...
... DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE, ON DIVINE NAMES. CAPUT XII. Concerning Holy of Holies,
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of Gods. SECTION I. ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/caput xii concerning holy of.htm

Concerning "Holy of Holies," "King of Kings," "Lord of Lords ...
... THE DIVINE NAMES CHAPTER XII Concerning "Holy of holies," "King of kings,"
"Lord of lords," "God of gods.". 1. Forasmuch as the things ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter xii concerning holy of.htm

How Pompey had the City of Jerusalem Delivered up to Him but Took ...
... Delivered Up To Him But Took The Temple By Force. How He Went Into The Holy
Of Holies; As Also What Were His Other Exploits In Judea. ...
/.../chapter 7 how pompey had.htm

Phenomena Accompanying the Death of Christ: the Earthquake the ...
... [790] The veil of the Holy of Holies in the Temple was rent asunder, [791] signifying
that the Holy of Holies in heaven is opened to all men through the ...
/.../section 293 phenomena accompanying the.htm

Do You Look for Another? but Daniel Foretells the Exact Time. ...
... and to make atonement for iniquities, and to bring everlasting righteousness, and
to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint a Holy of Holies; and thou shalt ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 39 do you look.htm

Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever?
... this consummation of Christ's sacrifice was foreshadowed in this, that the
high-priest of the Old Law, once a year, entered into the Holy of Holies with the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priesthood of christ.htm

The Double Altar, Widows and virgins; Gold the Symbol of virginity ...
... to which they bring calves and tithes, and free-will offerings, as a sacrifice to
the Lord; but the golden altar within the [2659] Holy of holies, before the ...
/.../chapter viii the double altar widows.htm

Now it came to Pass, when She was Fourteen Years Old...
... And the Lord said to him: Put all their rods into the holy of holies of God, and
let them remain there, and order them to come to thee on the morrow to get ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 8 now it came.htm